Day 6: Memphis to Bowling Green, KY

We began morning by picking up our bike from the Harley dealer. From there we went to Graceland to a Harley dealer there. The house was very busy today as this year marks the 75th anniversary. We found the t-shirts we wanted and those for gifts. We then headed out of Memphis and headed north and east for a very long, hot day. The ride to Bowling Green was uneventful. We made a stop in Jackson TN at the Casey house and railroad depot. There we found a great little restaurant were I got fried catfish, fried okra and hush puppies. Judy got fried chicken, white beans and fried okra. It was a true southern meal and absolutely great. We walked through some of the little stores then headed down the road. Along the way I found a boat outlet.Judy had mentioned the might before that she wanted to look at boats. She did find a pair she liked; so we bought the boats, strapped the to the motorcycle and headed down the road. We hit five o'clock traffic and did the stop
And start slow speed run for about ten miles. It was very hot.traffic naturally thinned put and we headed to Kentucky to find a hotel room for the night.

Day 5: Natchez to Memphis

Today we left Natchez to begin our journey home. The clouds from hurricane Alex were very visible. We left early for a 369 mile trek north. We took highway 61 to Mississippi highway 1. These highways run along the Mississippi River. The scenery was very different from what we were use to along the Natchez Trace. Along the Trace we saw many forest area. Along highway 61 we saw lush farm land. The highway is called the Great River Road . Much to my surprise there were very few cars along the road. We saw corn, cotton, soy beans, and peppers. I took a side tour along MS 14. We ran through a one mile square block at a very slow speed. As we progressed several children began to follow us. The poverty was so humbling to me. The value of all of the houses together in this square block wouldn't equal that of one of our Harleys. That was very eye opening to me. The amount of poverty I saw as we made our way along highway one was sad and amazing to me. part way along the route one of our riding companions fell back. We stopped at an overlook of a river to wait. She joined us a few minutes later to let us know that she thought she either lost a part of her bike or ran over something. We looked the bike over carefully and started down the road. Shortly after we found a gas station. Two of us pulled into the pumps. Our third person pulled into the drive way and stopped. I walked over I walked over because I thought she was stuck in a hole. When I got there it was clear she had a flat tire. The gas station did not have an air hose. We called road side assistance and had a car and trailer come and take us to the Rolling Thunder Harley dealer. They stayed open just to take the bile. The service we received was amazing. from the Harley dealer we got to our hotel and crashed. Another great day on the road.

Day 4: Natchez

Today we took a day off from our riding to explore Natchez. We visited the Stanton plantation house. It is one of the largest ones in Natchez. We walked through the historic downtown area visiting art galleries and stores. We aye lunch at a little cafe. I has a salmon pecan salad that was totally amazing.  We even toured the historic cemetery. We got to use some of our slow speed drive skills as we traveled through the narrow road and tight turns of the cemetery. We then traveled across the Mississippi River over the bridge that connects Natchez with Vidalia. Consequently we can claim we went to Louisiana on this trip.We hung out at the hotel and swam in the pool getting out as we saw the dark clouds approaching. Hurricane Alex is off the coast of Mexico and Texas and we ate seeing the bands of clouds and rain overhead.

Day 3: Tupelo to Natchez

We spent a good portion of the day on the Natchez Trace seeing the various sites. We did take a side trip to a Harley Davidson dealer in Jackson Mississippi. I now appreciate my Harley dealer so much more.

Our morning began early with breakfast at the hotel. We were on the Trace by 9:00 am central time. At that point the day was sunny and warm, but the humidity hadn't reached it's peak. This part of the Trace seemed more shaded. The clouds slowly built through out the day. We expected the typical pop up scattered showers we have had the whole trip.

Our first stop of the day was an overlook that was 614 feet high and considered the highest point in Mississippi. While we have each seen much higher places, this was no less beautiful. From there we continued down the Trace. We stopped at a swamp that wad really cool. I walked along the bridge through the swamp and listened to all the sounds of frogs and cranes and blue herons. The swamp was it's own world. From there we visited an overlook that was on the south end of a man made lake. We also stopped at a series of Indian mounds. While there our friend Kathy made a bold prediction that we were going to dodge the rain that was so evident I'm the cloud about. We left the Indian mound and were no more than five minutes down the road when the sky opened up with rain falling hard. About five minutes into the rain storm as I considered pulling over to put on rain gear, it stopped; just as quickly ad it began. Within ten minutes travel time we had dried off as the humidity climbed. In no time we exited the Trace in Natchez. We found out hotel, nicely located on the Mississippi River. A newer hotel, with a great pool which is a nice treat after a hot day on the bike. We traveled about 280 miles today. Tommie is a down day for whatever exploration we want to do.

Day 2: Nashville to Tupelo

We began our day with a trip to the Hermitage, the home of our seventh president Andrew Jackson. The home sits on just over 1000 acres of land that was used as a cotton farm. Andrew and his wife Rachel has over 100 slaves that worked the farm prior to their emancipation after the Civil War. We were able to tour a museum that chronicled the life of the Hermitage as intertwined with the life, military career and presidency of Andrew Jackson. The matter of fact portrayal of slavery was striking. No judgement implied - it was just part of the story. I was also interested in how Andrew's adopted daughter Sarah began the Women of Hermitage society prior to her passing. This society has maintained the home for over 140 years. Amazing for sight.

From there we found the Natchez Trace Trail and began the 260 mile journey to Tupelo. The day was very hot and humid. I was sweating Judy standing still. The welcomed breeze one creates by riding the motorcycle was very refreshing. Our first stop on the Trace was an overlook that gave us a great view of the 155 foot high double arched bridge. What was amazing was that it spanned a wheat field. I have never imagined a bridge over a wheat field.

As the afternoon wore on we watched the clouds form. The formation was beautiful. The Trace was a perfect road to allow a bit of sight seeing as I rode. The Trace was a flat, gracefully curved road. There were very few cars. What was surprising was that there were berthed motorcycles. We virtually has the road to ourselves.

One of the more amazing sites for me was when we road over the Tennessee River. The river was much wider than I realized. There were boats with people fishing and skiing. It looked so beautiful and refreshing. We had planned to stop at the Alabama state line. One of our riders was born on Alabama and we wanted a picture. We were surprised by hoe pronounced the state line was. Our first site was of a very small sign that said Alabama state line near a pull off. I pulled off thinking we would walk back to the sign one to discover a big pronounced sign with the two state seals and flowers. It was really cool. The Trace only passes through a very small corner of Alabama so we were in the state a very short time. By now it was clear we had just missed a rain shower. The road was wet and steam billowed upward. There were times the ride felt cold as we progressed through shady parts and times it was humid thanks to the steam from the earlier shower. We encountered a brief shower but was pretty lucky. We saw the storm moving in from the west, but managed to get to the hotel before the next rain.

We ordered in Italian and had it delivered to the room. We rested and shared stories and observations of our first day on the Trace.

Day 1: On to Nashville

We left at 8 am for a long day if interstate riding. Destination was Nashville where we would meet up with a friend who would be joining us on the Natchez Trace. The morning was already warm and humid and we were to expect it only to climb. The ride through Ohio was good and traffic wad light on this Sunday. The only notable moment was outside Dayton when we passed this church that is known for their huge statue of Jesus. However the statue wasn't there.it has been struck by lightning and burned.the only thing remaining was the metal frame. Very weird.We exited 75 onto 71 in northern Kentucky. As we rounded the ramp we could see this dark clouds. I headed for the nearest exit and as we exited, huge drops of rain fell that turned into a down poor just as we got under the overhang at the BP station. We stayed there for 30 minutes and waited out the storm before putting on rain gear and heading to Louisville. We road a good 60 miles in rain and the sun speared. We found the Bluegrass. Harley Dealer and took off the rain gear before heading in to buy a t-shirt. From there it was a long rode to Nashville through on again off again showers that were annoying. They would start and stop so quickly that we didn't even put on the rain gear. Finally we approached Nashville. The city is bigger than I realized.We made our way through the city to our hotel on the east side near the Hermitage, our first destination tomorrow. Once here we jettisoned the wet clothes, put on the shorts and found s Mexican restaurant for dinner. Five hundred and fifteen miles down. More than what we wanted in a day.

Day 5: Amsterdam

Today we had a " cultural day" to explore Amsterdam or other places. We decided to explore the Haag. To get there we took the subway to a train station. We then took a train to Des Haag. Once there we had to locate a map. We wandered into what we though was an information building like we find in the US. However, it turned out to be the Ministry of Space Planning. We spoke with the person on duty about the city and eventually found a map. I am continually delighted about the people's willingness to talk with tourists and strangers and share about their country and the places to see. It strikes me as a sense of pride.

After some conversation we headed to the "centrum" to see if we could locate the parliament building and some museums. We wandered into a sporting goods store. This day the Netherlands soccer team would be playing Japan. Everyone was in their orange gear. It was very much like a college football game. Several of us wanted to find items to take back to children or friends. I was hoping for a warmer coat that displayed the Netherlands colors. Much to my delight I found just the item. Several in my group purchased Netherlands shirts or jerseys or balls. We were decked out in orange for the day.

We walked on coming to the parliament building. We spent some time studying the architecture. I find European buildings to be very beautiful. The center square included a fountain with gold trim that was amazing. From there we managed to find the royal house. The gate was ordained with gold. The house struck me as rather plain compared to the other buildings throughout the city. I could imagine that the slogans of this home was contained within.

By now the Netherlands soccer game was about to begin. We headed to find a pup for lunch and the game. What better way to experience a culture than through their sports. We found a pub that was packed with people, as was all pubs. We ordered and watched. I do not understand soccer as well as other sports, but I can appreciate the athleticism I see. I have watched a number of soccer games in the past as I have taught at two private colleges with very good soccer teams. However, it was soon clear that people in the Netherlands watch soccer very differently than Americans. they cheer plays that I found myself wondering what was so important. I found that in time that they understood the strategy and finer points of the game that I haven't even begun to master. It was very cool! The Netherlands scored a goal early in the second period and the pub erupted! The game ended 1 to 0 with the Netherlands winning. The celebration began.

We decided to leave Des Haag and head to Madurodam. Madurodam is a place where all of the famous buildings from the Netherlands are displayed in miniture. Word can not capture the detail and elegance of these models. The churches and castles were beautiful. They even included the schropol airport. The airplanes moved and made sounds.

We headed back to the hotel from there to rest and pack for our return trip. They day was full of adventure and fun. I am discovering that I enjoy learning about other cultures.

Day 4: Amsterdam

Today was a conference day. We began with a number of plenary sessions that mainly focused on the move of the Netherlands and Bulgaria toward short cycle higher education. The name seems to come from the definitions of the various cycles of higher education that begin with a definition between what we would see as high school level and a bachelor's level. It appears that they are attempting to define the associates degree level. Also it appears that relatively recently they have defined professional degrees that end into a job as an additional degree apart from an academic degree. It is clear that the professional degrees are not as esteemed as the academic degrees. This is clearly evident on Bulgaria. Bulgaria is very behind in their move toward this process. This process is referred to as the Bologna process. In the US we have been doing the short cycle higher education in our technical and community colleges for quite some time. The Dutch are very interested in learning from us.

I am struck by the apparent unity in which Europe has adopted the process. I remember when Europe was switching to the Euro and how amazed I was that they were able to agree upon a currency. Now I am watching a degree of "standardization" (they would not like that word) of their higher education system.

Tonight our dinner was served on a canal boat. We took a two hour cruse through the canals of Amsterdam. The city is lovely. While there is much building and renovation occurring, the Dutch have been Abe to preserve the charm of the architecture. Rembrandt spent some time in the city. We saw a house where he spent a great deal of time painting and teaching students. We saw the various bridges and a couple of canals that regulate water levels. We also saw a few houses that lean due to their sinking. Amsterdam is on land reclaimed from the sea. If the foundation of the house was not properly set then the house will lean over time. In the US we would tear the house down and rebuild. Here the house is still occupied and serves as a viable residence. I was again struck by the leisurely approach to dinning. I really wish we Americans would adopt that approach.

Day 3: Amsterdam Part 1

During the afternoon we met with our Dutch partners to talk about future collaborations. The conversation was very interesting and informative. I am amazed at how two educational systems can face similar challenges under very different governments and cultures. While funding is not an issue, retention, graduation and respect for short cycle education are issues. Also, the need for leadership training is an issue. For the Netherlands it is an issue because of the new concept of short cycle training while for US community colleges it is a matter of a agitate of trained and available people with advanced degrees. I was also surprised that the idea of studying "higher education" does not exist in Europe. While there are always one or two exceptions, there really is no field of study like higher educational administration and policy. This field of study in the US has it's tension as well. There are some who question it's relevance as a field of study as well.

After our meeting we returned to our hotel only to meet up later for dinner. I find Amsterdam to be very diverse. So to are the food options. We opted for a French restaurant. Our dinning experience began when the waiter took us to the pub area in the lower level of the building where we consumed pre-dinner drinks. There he shared with us a tray of herring and sausage. I tried both. I knew I would like the sausage from previous visits. The herring I had previously tried back in 1990 when I first traveled to the Netherlands with Sports Outreach International. I didn't care for it then. Tonight I tried it and it seemed wonderful. After drinks we were led to the dinning room. We ordered. I has Damon and it was outstanding. For our "salad" we were served a variety of items, one of which was a hard boiled quail egg. I tried one. I couldn't peal it but the shell was thin enough to eat it along with the egg. It was good, nothing real different than hard boiled chicken eggs other than the shell.

Dinning here is a much more casual, relaxed event. Time between courses of a meal are lengthier than in the U S. No one is trying to turn tables quickly to serve as many as possible. The relaxed approach is part of the experience. Dinning is highly social. People seem much more focused on one another than the TV or ambience of the decore.

Day 2: Amsterdam Part 1

I have found that jet lag is not a problem for me when going to Europe. That is nice because I can integrate into the day and events so much quicker. Today I began my day at the normal time of 6:00 am. I decided to start my day with a run. The place I am staying has a fitness center so I headed there. When I arrived it was closed. I was surprised, but it turned out to be a blessing. I headed out the door and ran on the trail next to the bike path outside the hotel. The morning was cool and very pleasant. I was surprised at all the activity. I am still at awe and a bit jealous of all the bicycles. There were more bikes than cars moving this morning; and I am not including the mopeds. I saw many kids heading to school. They were on bicycles and skate boards and rollerblades. They looked fit and I couldn't help thinking how we Americans could benefit from cycling to work and our kids cycling to school.

I also noticed all of the orange flags and banners representing the Netherland soccer team. Football is big here. That is an understatement. My colleague who arrived earlier than me said that he was here the day Netherland played Findland and that the country stopped. There was no one on the streets. All the pubs with tvs were packed and those without tvs were empty. It was amazing. I can't imagine soccer ever reaching that level in the United States.

I love the active Dutch culture and the canals; the cooler weather and the varied diverse people. I could live here.

Day 1: Amsterdam

I arrived in Amsterdam at 10am Netherlands time. This was the first time I have traveled overseas alone. I was surprised at just how typical the airport in Amsterdam was as compared to the countless airports I have been in the US. My luggage beat me to the belt, so I was glad to see it waiting there for me. After retrieving the bag I was off to find a cab. The person I found understood English enough to understand where I needed to go. I was a bit nervous though when he had to pull out his map to find the hotel. None the less he got me there and I checked in early which was a welcomed event. After dome down time in the hotel I ventured out to what was a two mile walk to the centrum (downtown). There I found a sporting goods store decked out in Netherlands gear for the 2010 world cup. I purchased a Netherlands replica soccer jersey to celebrate my trip. Next, I set off to find lunch. Among the numerous restaurants was the Hard Rock Cafe. Had to try it. Amazingly, it was just like the one in Washington DC that we ate at during Memorial weekend. I then made the walk back to the hotel. Finally, the limited sleep from the flight was catching up with me. After a brief nap, our college president call and we finally connected and met up for dinner. Tomorrow begins the conference and a new adventure.

Day 5: Returning Home

We left Pittsburgh by 8:00 a.m. today. We had about 250 miles ahead before arriving at home. The weather forecast called for thunderstorms beginning in the afternoon. However, no weather forecast would give a time. We made good time with minimal stops for gas. I kept watching the weather on my XM satellite radio feed. It was clear that rain was just south of us as we entered into Ohio. We were within 7 miles of exiting the turnpike to head out separate ways when the rain began. We pulled over to the side of the road and donned our rain suites. We said good bye and exchanged hugs. Sad the weekend and ride was over, but looking forward to being home and sleeping in my own bed with a GOOD mattress. As we continued to travel toward our exit the rain lightened up. Hope was alive within me that we might make it home with just a little rain. Rounding the bend and heading toward our exit the sky opened and the rain beat down. I looked for the closest underpass only to find cars had hogged the underpass - come on folks - you are in a car with a top; you don't need the overpass like we on motorcycles do!!!!

The hard rain quickly ended and turned to a lighter rain. We agreed to head the remaining 8 miles home. The 8 miles passed quickly and we entered our garage to begin unpacking, cleaning and laundry and talking about all the great memories we just made.

Day 4: Rolling Thunder and Pittsburgh

Today is the big Rolling Thunder parade in Washington D.C. We got started about 10:00 a.m. and headed into D.C. only to find out that there was no way to get close to the parade. Every road was blocked off. There was no way to get from the north side of D.C. to the south side of D.C. or from the east side to the west side. It was very frustrating. It appeared that the blocked off streets were different than the ones published in the guide and papers. We later found out there was suspicious powered in Union Station that led to more and more streets blocked off and heighten security. After numerous attempts to get to where we wanted to park, I lead us to the Washington Byway. We kept looking for places to pull off and after a long, difficult attempt; we finally continued down the Byway for 495. We pulled off a scenic overlook, regrouped and agreed to forgo going downtown and just head to Pittsburgh, our final destination before heading home tomorrow.

I lead the way. We had come to rely on my GPS. I am not one who enjoys leading, but on the Interstate, leading is easy - no red lights. After my third day of leading, I was feeling more comfortable and people were feeling more familiar with me. We made a couple of stops for gas, but we were focused on getting to Pittsburgh so we would have some time to go into the downtown area and enjoy the city. We arrived at the hotel about 5:00 p.m. and were back on our bikes by 6:00 p.m.

We agreed that di

nner was to be at Pirmanti Brothers Restaurant. They are famous for their sandwiches that include meat, french fries and cole slaw. The restaurant was featured on the Food Channel. Three years ago two brothers began the restaurant. They severed many tr

uckers. Those truckers wanted there food all together. So they invented a sandwich that included the fries and coleslaw. Soon the sandwiches

became famous and now that is all they served. I split a cheese stake sandwich with a friend. Added a side of cheese fries, even with fries on the sandwich. We all split an order of coleslaw, even with slaw on the sandwich. Two people had the "Iron City" beer. Clearly Pittsburgh brewed. I stuck to diet coke.

After dinner we left. As evening came over the city, we didn't feel that hanging around was a good idea. We were going to leave for home in the morning and we wanted to get back to see if we could hear the weather. It appeared that storms were being predicted for Memorial Day Monday.

Day 3: Washington D.C.

We agreed to another late (9:00 a.m.) start. As we were in the parking lot we were greeted with a surprise - another riding budding and his wife drove in from Baltimore to have breakfast with us. They were going to join us on the ride, but health issues kept them from joining us. Instead they visit their daughter in Baltimore. We were delighted that they stopped by. We has breakfast at the Bob Evans across from the hotel. After hugs and well wishes our friends headed back to Baltimore. We headed to the Harley Davidson dealer of Washington D.C. for their Memorial Day cook out and party.

Attending biker rallies isn't something I have done much in the past. I have been to tw

o biker rallies in the five yea

rs I have been riding. Both were local. I wasn't sure what to ex

pect. There were at le

ast a thousand bikes at the dealer. There were 12-15 vendor booths selling anything and everything that a biker could consider. There was a lot of free food, and a band. There is NO alcohol. The crowd as controlled and polite. People were friendly. Many talked about why they came to participate in Rolling Thunder. Some have been to all 23. For other, like me, this was their first time at Rolling Thunder. We all admired each other's bikes. We purchased our Rolling Thunder memorial t-shirts and other items of memorabilia. I purchased a flag. It seemed appropriate to display a flag on my bike. After meandering

about for over an hour, we met up by our bikes, mounted and headed back into Washington D.C.

I lead us to our parking area near Constitution and 17th. We came to visit the WWII Memorial and Thunder ally. Thunder ally is a street near the memorial were many vendors set up their booths to sell anything and everything a biker might want. Clearly, the event has become a capitalist success story. There were far more bikes on and around the Mall then yesterday. It was so cool; and overwhelming. O

ne very interesting bike included a trailer for his dogs. He pulls the trailer everywhere he goes and his two big dogs ride in back. The trailer has windows, vents and a fan. I could just picture my dogs riding in one.

After a couple of hours on the Mall we found the Hard Rock Cafe of Washington D.C. We had dinner and shared our stories from the day. It was great to spend the evening with friends. After dinner we mounted our bikes and headed back to our hotel. We visited a local pub to listen to music before checking in for the evening. The local pub, "Apehangers", is named after a common type of handlebars used by motorcyclists. We were at the pub early and there were very few people there. The local band was very good. We packed it in after an hour and headed back to the hotel to turn in early so we could be up early and head to the Rolling Thunder parade.

When I laid on the bed I was both exhausted from the busy day and excited anticipating tomorrow. Many thoughts swirled. Thoughts of my family members who severed in WWII and Korea, a neighbor who served in Nam and the teachers I spent a week with in 2002 learning about Vietnam and the Memorial. What a moving, patriotic day!

Day 2: Waldorf, Md & The Mall

We began our day by sleeping in. For us that meant we were up at 7:00 a.m. and ready to leave for the next leg of the journey by 9:00 a.m. The morning was overcast and cool. The weather called for a slight chance of showers throughout the day. We didn't know what that meant, but it was clear the weather forecasters didn't know what that meant either. A prediction of scattered showers wasn't going to keep us off the road.Prior to heading out, we visited the Frederick Harley Davidson dealer. We often visit Harley Dealers to purchase our traditional t-shirt. Each shirt is unique and contains the dealer's "signature" picture. I am at a point where I can't not image owning another t-shirt so I have taken to purchasing the dealer's pin which also features the custom picture. But this trip was for more than the traditional T-shirt or pin; I needed to get my front fender light put back on my fender. Prior to leaving the house yesterday we discovered that the fender light had come off. We disconnected the light from the wiring and taped the wire to keep it from getting wet. However, driving without all possible lights just doesn't feel safe. We all figured it was a 10 minute job, so we thought that stopping at the dealer was a good idea. The dealer took it in, told us it would be an hour, and twenty minutes later it was fixed and ready to go. Of course, that was enough time for us to buy t-shirts and my pin.

So, we were good to go and headed out to find our next Days Inn in Waldorf, Md. Within an hour of leaving Frederick we were in Waldorf. The traffic in the Washington D.C. area is dense. Compared to what we all are use to on a daily basis, the traffic is a challenge. With a little help from my GPS we found our hotel, tucked off the main road. We checked in and met up to take our first ride to the Mall and see the monuments, most important - the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.

Washington D.C. was about a 15 mile ride from our hotel. Riding into the D.C. for

the first time was special for me. I've flown into Reagan National Airport so many times and each time I enjoyed looking out the window to see

the Washington Monument. However, riding into D.C. on a motorcycle and catching a glimpse of the Washington Monument and the Capitol for the first time was even more special and moving. I feeling a patriotism and love for coun

try was very present. But also a pride. There is a feeling of "freedom" that comes with riding a motorcycle. There

is a connection to my surroundings that I don't get when I am in my car. When I am on my bike I feel like I am riding within the area as when I'm in my car where the car keeps me disconnected to the area. As one bumper sticker says, "If I have to explain, you wouldn't understand". It defies understanding unless you have experienced it.

Getting from 395 to the mall was a bit more challenging that I expected. Several roads were blocked off for construction and other blocked off in preparation for the Memorial D

ay weekend events. We followed our leader into Dupont Circle. At that point we traveled down Embassy Row. Eventually we found a gas station and pulled up on the sidewalk to compare notes. At that point

I volunteered to lead. I have traveled enough to D.C. to be familiar with the city; and a bit dangerous when it comes to navigating the area. I explained to the group that I'd get them there, but that it wouldn't be the most direct route. I knew that I would be taking them to 3rd street and K and then finding Massachusetts and Constitution Avenue from there. I didn't tell them my plan. So, in the first round-about I lost two of our riders who couldn't get through the light. Remember my blog entry from May 27th about trusting and knowing your leader? Well, I don't usually lead AND running lights in D.C. is a bit more dangerous than in other cities. Two of us kept going. At the next light we agreed to get to the Vietnam Memorial and then we would call the others and help them find us.

We finally got to Constitution and 21st street. Stopped the bike. Got out the phone and there was a text from our

riding buddies. They were at the Smithsonian Castle. Well, getting them to us proved to be a bit m

ore challenging then I expected. First, I had to orient them t

o where they were in proximity to us. Trying to get them to face the Lincoln Memorial and explain to them to head toward that wasn't as easy as I expected. With some persistence we hung up. I was m

ildly optimistic that they would find us and in 10 minutes we saw our riding buddies cruising up Constitution Avenue. With some fancy flagging and waving moves they saw us, made a u-turn and were backing their bikes into a parking spot close by. Finally we were together by the Memorial!

From there we reviewed how we got separated and what we would do in the future. We got much better at trying to communicate a meeting point should we ever get separated.

Each ride we learn something about each other and what to do on our trip. Each tip, each lesson is valuable for making the rides more enjoyable and more important, s

afer!

We took a walk to the Memorial. It was Friday and people were already gathering at the Memorial. Flowers, gifts, notes, and other memorabilia lined the wall. People were rubbing names and taking pictures. Several wreaths were already placed a

t the base of the Memo

rial. While there were hundreds of people, there was silence. The silence was so respectful. It was a very moving first visit to the Memorial. All of us had been to the Memorial before and w

e each commented later that every visit is emotional and special, but no two visits have eve

r been the same.

We walked around and looked at the thousands of bikes th

at were already gathering around the Mall area. We often look for cool additions or paint jobs on bikes. It is fun to look and people watch. Motorcyclists are very friendly people. Everywhere we went we talked. While on our walk, a reporter from TV 7 stopped one of our group. She happened to be a veteran. The reporter asked her several questions about President Obama's absence from Washington D.C. during this Memorial Day weekend. After

she answered h

is questions, he asked her if she would be willing to be interviewed for a story. She did the interview. Later that night, back in our hotel room we were able to watch our friend on TV. You can check out the story by clicking on this TV7 link.

After the interview we headed back to the hotel and dinner. On the way it began to rain. The first rain of the day after scattered showers were predicted. At first the rain was slight, then it stopped, then it began to rain hard for 2 to 3 minutes. After that the rain was light, but steady. We didn't have an opportunity to put on our rain gear as we had just entered the expressway. Once off the expressway we pulled off into a gas station, got gas and put on our rain suits. I skipped the rain suite; I was already drenched. I was happy it was still a warm night and the rain was annoying. I haven't ridden much at night. Nor have I ridden much in the rain. So, here I was; in busy D.C. driving at night in the rain. I was quite nervous. However, the ride back to the hotel was enjoyable. However, I was never so thankful to be at the hotel then when we pulled in that night. We agreed to dry off, change, and get dinner. We soon discovered nothing was open. So we ordered pizza, wings and pasta and watched our friend's interview on TV.

A GREAT first day in D.C.

First Trip: Washington D.C. & Rolling Thunder

Thursday, May 27, 2010: We began our adventure at 8:00 a.m. today. We are riding from Toledo to Washington D.C. to visit the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and participate in "Rolling Thunder". It is also known as the "First Amendment Demonstration Run". According to the Rolling Thunder web site, "The major function of Rolling Thunder®, Inc. is to publicize POW-MIA issues: To educate the public that many American prisoners of war were left behind after all previous wars and to help correct the past and to protect future veterans from being left behind should they become prisoners of war-missing in action." For me, the purpose of going to DC for the Rolling Thunder event was to reflect upon a week I spent in DC in 2002, hosted by the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, learning about the Vietnam war and the memorial. The event was entitled the "Teach Vietnam Teacher's Network". During that amazing week, I came to understand the bitter divide our nation experienced during the Vietnam War. That divide affected the veterans who returned home and the families of those who did not return home. I came to remember those who gave so much and to say thank you and welcome home to those who gave and returned.

Rolling Thunder has grown into a major annual event. It first began in 1987 with a few riders wanting to bring their concerns over the POW issues to the attention of lawmakers in Washington D.C. These individuals with a few of their friends rode into D.C. on Memorial Weekend. Each year the number of riders increased. In 1995 Rolling Thunder incorporated and the event of formalized.

We began the trip with a short ride to a meeting point where we were joined by two other bikes and three people. We jumped on the Ohio turnpike and headed east toward Pen

nsylvania. The weather was hot for May. It was a great day to ride. We spent the day making good time through Ohio and Pennsylvania. Our stops included gas and a lunch stop on the turnpike. We were focused on getting to our Fredrick, Maryland destination so we could make the most of our DC visit beginning on Friday. As riders, we have rode through the Blue Ridge Parkway a coup

le of summers ago. That time together helped us know how each other rides and made it easy to follow each other. Trust and confidence in your lead rider is so important. You have to have a little bit of familiarity with each other's riding style for those times when the three-way light turns yellow at an inopportune time. If you are following the leader, you can't be wondering if the person is going through the light or not because once you are committed to going forward or stopping there is not much of a SAFE opportunity to change your mind.

The traffic on Thursday seemed "normal". We saw a number of motorcycles heading east like us. Rolling Thunder pulls riders from all across the United States. I wasn't sure if the traffic would be heavy or not this Memorial Day. This Thursday it was not heavy. There is little to talk about on our ride to Fredrick, Md. The only real laugh we all had was our astonishment at the high tolls on the Pennsylvania turnpike. There were also a number of stretches along the PA Pike under construction - so it was hard to imagine that we PAID to ride on that road. Then again, they pr

obably needed the money to pay for the road work.

We arrived in Frederick, Md. and checked into our Days Inn. After 425 miles on the road a hot shower, a good meal and a great night sleep is much needed. We found each in Frederick. After dinner at the "Waffle

House" we hung outside our rooms and shared stories of our past year. Our jobs keep us busy and we often do not get a chance to visit during the winter months, so this trip is a great way to renew our friendships. As the stories slowed, we turned

to talking about the day ahead. We were all looking forward to our short (45 mile) journey into Waldorf, Md. tomorrow and then our first visit to the Mall and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

Garrison Keillor

Garrison Keillor

Are you an NPR listener? If so, you will recognize the name, Garrison Keillor. If not, your might recognize the name from Prairie Home Companion or Lake Wobegon. If not, time to do an Internet search and listen to some of the archived programs. Tonight, Garrison Keillor was on our campus. Before the event I attended a VIP reception where Garrison Keillor stepped in for what we all were told was to be a 15 minute appearance. He stayed longer. He interacted with our college president who then deferred the interaction to me. Garrison's wit, humor and brilliance was quickly evident. With his beginning question about what our college was known for, to a question about what was wrong with K-12 education, right through his discussion why animals in his stories, he engaged in a conversation with our small group displaying wit and wisdom. Prior to leaving for his monologue before 1700 people in our multipurpose room, he presented the "vips" in the room with autographed books. Here we thought we were meeting the VIP and he made it a point to acknowledge the vips from the college. He begin is monologue singing while a few late stragglers were ushered to their seats. He then began by looking out a window right of stage and began to talk about "April" and how it was such a special month for love. He carefully interwove the theme of love throughout his next 30 minute presentation. He began with a story about one of his dates during prom while growing up in Minnesota. He move that into another story about love and fantasy. Each story built upon another story, often with what seemed like random connections, but carefully woven into each story and holding them together was a message about a "simpler time" when things were focused on love and relationships. He spoke from just over two hours. Throughout his entire presentation he never paused or hesitated while delivering many messages through stories and songs.

The Women's Final Four

I played basketball in high school. I coached and officiated basketball for many years after graduating from college. I've seen the women's game grow from its early roots in the NAIA to the first NCAA Women's Final Four tournament that mirrored the men's Final Four. My first trip to a women's final four event was in 2000 when I traveled to Philadelphia, Pa. That year Michigan State's men's team was in the final four. This year, Michigan State's men's team was also in the final four. That is where the parallel ends as in 2000 MSU men's team won the national title and this years team lost to Butler in the semi-finals. While I cheer for the MSU men during basketball season (and their women as well), I prefer to root for Tennessee's women's basketball team. They had already exited this years tournament and the final four included Stanford, UConn, Oklahoma and Baylor. UConn were the favorites. Many of my friends and colleagues at work told me I was going to see who was going to finish second. While that was the general sentiment, one never knows what might happen on the basketball floor. While UConn put away Baylor in the first semi final match, they had to work harder than any other time during the season. Stanford beat Oklahoma in the second semi final match setting up a Stanford vs. UConn final. UConn had already beaten Stanford earlier this year. It was Stanford's only loss. Hope springs eternal. During the first half, Stanford led throughout most of the period. Stanford's fans were vocal and all those in the arena who were not UConn fans joined with the Stanford faithful. UConn shot a dismal 27 % from the floor in the 1st half. Stanford wasn't much better than 32 %, but that slight difference gave them the lead at half time. The beginning of the second half, Stanford went cold and suddenly UConn found their shooting touch that had alluded them through out the semi-final match and the first half of the finals. Five minutes into the second period, a basketball purist could tell that the momentum had swung to UConn and it was only a matter of time before the game would be tied. Final, UConn tied the game and within a minute had open up a lead they never relinquished. So, it is with basketball. It is a game of streaks. UConn finished 78-0 over two seasons. That is quite an accomplishment and I am glad I was there to witness it.

The Women's Final Four

I played basketball in high school. I coached and officiated basketball for many years after graduating from college. I've seen the women's game grow from its early roots in the NAIA to the first NCAA Women's Final Four tournament that mirrored the men's Final Four. My first trip to a women's final four event was in 2000 when I traveled to Philadelphia, Pa. That year Michigan State's men's team was in the final four. This year, Michigan State's men's team was also in the final four. That is where the parallel ends as in 2000 MSU men's team won the national title and this years team lost to Butler in the semi-finals. While I cheer for the MSU men during basketball season (and their women as well), I prefer to root for Tennessee's women's basketball team. They had already exited this years tournament and the final four included Stanford, UConn, Oklahoma and Baylor. UConn were the favorites. Many of my friends and colleagues at work told me I was going to see who was going to finish second. While that was the general sentiment, one never knows what might happen on the basketball floor. While UConn put away Baylor in the first semi final match, they had to work harder than any other time during the season. Stanford beat Oklahoma in the second semi final match setting up a Stanford vs. UConn final. UConn had already beaten Stanford earlier this year. It was Stanford's only loss. Hope springs eternal. During the first half, Stanford led throughout most of the period. Stanford's fans were vocal and all those in the arena who were not UConn fans joined with the Stanford faithful. UConn shot a dismal 27 % from the floor in the 1st half. Stanford wasn't much better than 32 %, but that slight difference gave them the lead at half time. The beginning of the second half, Stanford went cold and suddenly UConn found their shooting touch that had alluded them through out the semi-final match and the first half of the finals. Five minutes into the second period, a basketball purist could tell that the momentum had swung to UConn and it was only a matter of time before the game would be tied. Final, UConn tied the game and within a minute had open up a lead they never relinquished. So, it is with basketball. It is a game of streaks. UConn finished 78-0 over two seasons. That is quite an accomplishment and I am glad I was there to witness it.

Opening Day: Indians V. Jays

The rite of spring - opening day for baseball.  However, this April 10th was anything but spring-like in Cleveland, Ohio. Mid 40s and a drizzle accompanied the first pitch by Indian's rookie Scott Lewis at Progressive Field.  However, the weather would not nor could not dampen my excitement. As an avid baseball fan, this was the first time in my life, I was attending opening day for MLB. I've been to opening day for the single A West Michigan Whitecaps (then an Oakland A's minor league team) for their inaugural season in Comstock Park, Michigan and six subsequent seasons, but I'd never been to an opening day in an MLB park.  

Having scored "club" seats, I was thrilled to be able to watch the first three innings from wonderful second deck seats close to indoor, heated club seating. Additionally, the all you can eat and drink food service allowed me to try out all the plentiful baseball fare. I was in b

aseball heaven. That was topped off by a Travis Hafner homer, his second in two days. After watching three, fairly cool, but not cold innings, I left the outdoor seating area and entered the indoor club area to scope out a seat and my favorite ball park food; hot dogs and nachos. After finding a seat, I discovered that 

the food was even better. The wide variety and choices made it terrible difficult to watch the game. The variety of aromas called my name. Upon selecting a variety of items, I settled in to watch the middle part of the game on TV. After one and 1/3 innings the rain increased and a rain delayed ensued. Enjoying the wonderful and company, we waited out at least 2 hours of the rain delay. We left 

and returned home (90 minutes later) to watch the remainder of the game from our warm living room.  

After a 3 hour and 47 minute rain delay the Indians and Jay resumed play. The final the Jays 13 and the Indians 7. The weather, final score, and the shorten stay at the stadium will not dampen my memories of a wonderful FIRST open day at a MLB ballpark. Go Tribe?

First Ride

Today marks the first ride of the season. This year it happens to be with the motorcycle. Granted it was a very short ride because it was only a 3 mile ride to the Harley store, but it was enough to give me a taste of things to come. After dropping my bike off for some minor additions and the lowering of the bike, I got to ride Judy's bike as well. That ride was only 3 miles as well - yes, to the Harley store. Both bike had a minor recall and she too had a couple of additions put on the bike. After a long winter and cabin fever, there is hope; and while the ride today was very short, it gave me a taste of things to come. While at the Harley store I saw the true fan's bike. The owner is clearly a Detroit Tiger fan. Not only did the pant job represent the colors of the Tiger, but it also included the beloved emblems of the team. I was truly impressed. Enjoy the pictures! Think spring!

Confusion

Life with a puppy is never dull. The puppy arrived in mid-December and the house has not been the same since. Besides the endless playing, constant activity and multiple feedings, there is the potty training. The two older dogs are pad trained. So, why not train the two puppies to be pad trained too? Well, the pups have good days and bad days. Early on it was about 50-50 that the pups would use the pads. More recently the pups have been about 75-25. It seems that one pup has a good day and one pup doesn't. There is no consistency or predictability. Then one morning this week I noticed an odd occurrence......clearly this pup doesn't know what to do with the pad. Is it a couch? Is it a table? but, low and behold, when it really counted the pad was used as a pad! However, the other pup decided that the pad was no longer a pad and sought a new place to put the poop. Ug! Will they every get it?

A Winery Tour: Cupcake Wine - California

On a recent trip to California, I had the opportunity to tour a winery. The winery was owned by The Wine Group. If you are a wine drinker you wouldn't recognize that name, however, you might recognize the names of their wines: Cupcake, Underdog, Franzia, Concannon, Canyon, Fish Eye, Mogen David, and Corbit Canyon to name a few. Franzia was one of the first, "wines in a box". The motivation for the box was to lower shipping costs. On our visit to the winery, we learned about how The Wine Company attempts to remain current and competitive in a highly competitive wine industry. Presently The Wine Group is the fourth largest winery in the world. Part of the presentation focused upon how the various generations (the Boomers, The X-Gen, and the I-Gen) have different preference for wine. The Boomers are very traditional wine drinkers who prefer their wine in bottles with corks. The I-Gen have come to wine drinking earlier than the Boomers and X-ers. They don't mine their wine in boxes or with screw caps. We learned about how the company purchased a number of vineyards around the world and often make their wine and truck it to the bottling plant in bags to save the cost of shipping the wine. Once at the bottling plant the wine is removed from the large bag and bottled for sale. After the presentation we had the opportunity to tour the winery. The winery includes a vineyard, manufacturing area, bottling area and tasting area. After the tour we had the opportunity to engage in a wine tasting. One of my favorites was the Cupcake brand of wine. Of all the reds and whites I tried, my ultimate favorite was the Cupcake Riesling. What a great tour and opportunity to learn a bit about a business and how they are constantly reinventing themselves to remain competitive in a global economy.

The RV Show

What do outdoor people do when there is two feet of snow on the ground (which is unusual for this area that averages 25 inches per year)? We dream about spring, summer and fall when we can be out and about. Some would say that we could be out and about during the snow. I would agree, but I am a warm weather girl. I am so ready to be on my bicycle, motorcycle, running and swimming in the warmth and sun of spring and summer. So, when cabin fever hit, we hit our convention center to see the RVs. I can't say that I have ever truly considered using an RV and going camping. At first, it was just an excuse to get out and about on a Friday night. However, the excuse to get out quickly turned into a great time of exploring a whole new world of camping in RV style. I was amazing at the size of the trailers and fifth wheels we visited. I could not believe all of the luxuries available in a trailer. Flat screen TVs, surround sound systems, state of the art appliances. I had to ask myself whether or not this was camping as I pictured it. Using an RV appeared to me that I would have a "mini" home on wheels to take where ever my heart and map desired. I remember my father once saying to me, don't buy one of those trailers. Back then, some thirty years ago, I can see his point. Tonight I found myself wondering what he would think now given the amazing advances in trailers and the technology available.

Snow Storm

What is the only profession in which you can be wrong most of the time and still be employed? Forecasting the weather! I'm sure weather men and women get razzed a great deal by their friends, families and even strangers. Yesterday, the news began broadcasting that our area was going to get a major winter storm. The previous weekend we had watched the reports out of Washington D.C. chronicling the 24 to 30 inches of snow fall they received. We didn't think we would get 24 inches, but the forecast was calling for 6 to 8. Reports had the storm starting around noon today. I left for lunch - no snow. I headed to my 4:00 p.m. meeting - no snow. However, when I emerged from my 4:00 p.m. meeting around 5 o'clock the snow began. Driving home was a challenge as the heavy snow fall was whipped around by the wind. We are not use to major snow in this area so drivers are ill prepared to navigate the snow. However, as I drove home this evening I couldn't help but wonder had this time one of those times when our weather forecasters were right.

What Cyclists Do At the Holidays

I love Christmas time (see my other blog, Life's Ordinary Events). It is a wonderful opportunity to reflect upon life's blessings and my favorite things. To commemorate my enjoyment of cycling, both on the bicycle and motorcycle, I add ornaments to the Christmas tree that represent that enjoyment. I share those with you here. While December and January are down times for me on my cycles, I use the time exercise and build my core muscles for those early spring bicycle rides. I often "dream" about and plan my next motorcycle vacation. So, stay tuned for more adventures when the weather here becomes for conducive for cycling in whatever form I choose.